Borges and I

How does Borges explore the relationship between an author’s inner self and their public persona? In what ways can an author’s work shape the public’s perception of them?

What are the implications of the “Borges” persona continuing to exist through his writings after his death? How does this relate to the themes of immortality and the persistence of one’s identity? Does this idea link to any of Borges’s other works?

Borges mentions that he identifies more with the books he has read than the ones he has written. What does the allusion to Robert Louis Stevenson mean in particular? Choose one or two works by Stevenson and analyze their relevance to the text.

How does Borges use metaphors and symbols like “hourglasses” and “maps” to convey his ideas about identity and creativity in the essay? Some of these are recurring images in Borges’s work—how do these symbols work intertextually in Borges’s oeuvre?

The essay delves into the paradoxical nature of fame. How does achieving recognition impact one’s identity, and what difficulties does it pose for the author?

Borges incorporates elements of surrealism into the essay. How does this style contribute to the exploration of identity and creativity in “Borges and I”?

In what ways does “Borges and I” reflect Borges’s philosophical and existential contemplations regarding the self and the act of writing? How do the references to Spinoza confirm or conflict with these ideas?

The essay contains autobiographical elements. How do Borges’s personal experiences influence his exploration of identity and literature?